These things duly weighed, and considering the Ground of our present Distempers; the Compiler of this Abridgment reckoned that he could not do his Countrymen a better Office, than (by laying before them the naked state of things) to give them at one view, a Prospect, both of the subject matter of their Apprehensions, and of the Vigilance, Zeal, and needful severity of the Government on their behalf. To which end, he hath here drawn up an _Historical Abstract_ of the whole matter of Fact concerning those Persons who have hitherto been Tryed for their Lives, either upon the _Plot_ it self, or in Relation to it: opposing Authentick Records to wandring Rumours; and delivering the _Truth_ in all Simplicity. He hath not omitted any one material Point: There is not so much as one _Partial Stroke_ in it; not a flourish, nor any thing but a bare and plain _Collection_, without any Tincture either of Credulity, or Passion. And it is brought into so narrow a Compass too, that it will ease the Readers _head_, as well as his _purse_; by clearing him of the puzzle of _Forms_, and _Interlocutories_. that serve only to amuse and mislead a man, by breaking the Order, and confounding the Relative parts of the _Proceeding_.
Having this in Contemplation; and being at the same time possest of a most exact _Summary_ of all passages here in Question; This Reporter was only to cast an Extract of these Notes into a Method: especially finding, that upon comparing the substance of his own papers, with the most warrantable Prints that have been published; his own _Abstract_ proved to be not only every jot as Correct, but much more Intelligible, which being _short_ and _full_; he thought might be useful, and find Credit in the world upon its own account, without need of a _Voucher_.
_True._ You have now the whole matter before you; the _Epistle_, ye see, justifies it self: And then for the _Narrative_, I dare undertake he shall yield up the Cause, if you can but produce any _One Material Point_, which he hath either _Falsify'd_, _Palliated_, or _Omitted_, in the whole _Proceeding_. But to be plain with you, _Citt_, One of the _Authours_ of _your Preface_ is a _Common setter_, _a Forger of Hands_, _a little spy_ upon the _Swan_ in _Fishstreet_; a _Hackny Sollicitor_ against both _Church_ and _State_: You know this to be true _Citt_; and that I do not speak upon Guess; so that _Calumny_, and _False Witnessing_ is the best part of that _Authours Trade_. And then the _pretended History_ is a direct _Arraignment_ of the _Government_. He takes up the _King_ and _Council_, _Pag._ 381. reflects upon the _Judges_ in the very _Contents_, and elsewhere; he descants upon the _Duke of York_ in opposition to the express sense and declaration of the _Bench_, _Pag._ 145. and has the confidence yet to Dedicate this _Gally-mawfry_ of audacious _slanders_ to _the Two Houses of Parliament_. There is little more in the whole, then what has been eaten and spew'd up again Thirty times over: and the intire work is only a _Medly_ of _Rags_, and _Solacisms_, pick'd up out of _Rubbish_, and most suitably put together.